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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. To what topic do many of Bishop's observations in the poems in North and South pertain?
(a) Politics.
(b) Nature.
(c) Geography.
(d) History.

2. What has Bishop arranged in "Invitation to Miss Marianne Moore"?
(a) A reservation at a nice restaurant.
(b) For the weather to be nice when Moore visits.
(c) Tickets for a show.
(d) A limo driver to take them shopping.

3. The structure of the poem "Visits to St. Elizabeth's" is the same as what song?
(a) I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly.
(b) The Twelve Days of Christmas.
(c) Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.
(d) This Old Man.

4. What does the man in "The Gentleman of Shalott" believe about being only part of a man?
(a) That half is enough.
(b) That one quarter is enough.
(c) That one third is enough.
(d) That only a whole man is enough.

5. In what Southern state are some of the poems in North and South set?
(a) Florida.
(b) Texas.
(c) Mississippi.
(d) Louisiana.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Bishop compare an iceberg to a ship in North and South?

2. What is Bishop's attitude toward the title character and his family in "Manuelzinho"?

3. In "Brazil January 1, 1502," how does the poet attempt to view the scenery?

4. On what is "The Riverman" based?

5. What do the poems in Four Poems describe?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is the tone of "A Cold Spring" in contrast to its subject matter?"

2. What is the significance of the title of "The Prodigal"?

3. What is the meaning of the lines "I'm afraid if it's wheat it's none of your sowing" in "Letter to N.Y."?

4. How does Bishop feel about winter in "The Colder the Air"?

5. What is similar about the poems in North and South devoted to morning?

6. Why does the character in "The Gentleman of Shalott" think half of him would be enough?

7. How is the writing style in "The Riverman" unlike most of Bishop's poems?

8. In "Electrical Storm," why are the pearls twice described as dead?

9. How does Bishop liken an iceberg to the soul in "The Imaginary Iceberg"?

10. In "Questions of Travel," does the poet decide it is better to travel, or stay home and use one's imagination?

(see the answer keys)

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